The 6th Ministerial Conference in Hong Kong 13th Dec - 18th Dec 2005



Please proceed to the assembly point for the anti-WTO assembly in Victoria Park.

OKie.. this is the first day of the WTO Conference. So, it's also the beginning of the anti-WTO demonstrations. (Although the various NGOs and groups have arrived sometime before the commencing of the conference.)

Apparently, people are worried about social order since media has always portrayed the protests to be violent. In truth, it is violent most of the time with the deaths of some protesters in the last conference held at Cancun, Mexico.

So there is rational fear among the local police to maintain order in times of chaos. After all, though demonstrations in HK are common, they are passive and non-violent demonstrations. This is unlike the anti-WTO protests. Suicide of a certain Korean farmer in the last meeting is still etched indelibly in the memory of many.

Thus, there were major roads closure. Ferries, taxis, buses and mini vans got to change their usual route. Shops closed their doors along the paths where protesters go pass.

YET... sometimes... I believe there are two faces to the protesters...

As I was in Vic Park today...

I saw the TV showing violence of protesters trying to break through the wall set up by the police..

Around 5pm.. these people marched back to Vic park to gather...

N there they were like any normal person we saw on the street.

I was holding onto the camera and a Korean protester smiled and bowed at me. (Of coz... well.. I did smile at him first since I was tryin to steal a shot of him.)

haa..

and another man.. holdin on to a massive banner.. I can't remember the words on the banner.. but is something about self-determination for a certain place I've never heard of. Something beginning with "C"..

Again... he gave me a friendly smile.

Sometimes.. I wonder..

You saw the violence portrayed in the media. You begin to believe that it is all these protesters do. That is to throw things at the police, breakin through the wall formed by the police, tryin to get into cardoned areas, jumpin into the sea and burning props along the street.

Then you forget about the meaning behind all these. You became desensitized by the violence and even harbor apathy towards these people who had spent time and effort to be here. You saw them as agitators of peace.

OR ARE THEY?

The bottom line is... what is the meaning behind what they are doing?

I do believe they deserve certain respect and it seems to be subtly acknowledged too.

Look... though police used pepper spray on the protesters when they get too close for comfort...

Protesters are provided with water to wash their eyes when it is causing them irritation.

Well... as you can see...

there is always two sides of things.